When I was asked to attend this play currently running at Centerstage in Federal Way, I reluctantly said, “Yes.” I’d been to a one-person show before and it put me right to sleep.

“The Belle of Amherst” opened with Maria Glanz, who plays the poet Emily Dickinson, immediately connecting with the audience. And I do mean connecting. She even passes out her black cake to those sitting in the front row. When she makes eye contact with you and asks a question, you feel compelled to answer her. Not a single audience member dozed during this outstanding performance.

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that Glanz performs one-woman shows often and receives awards for them. “See Me Naked” and “Pu’uhonua” garnered her critical acclaim and honors including “Best of Fest in the Edmonton and Winnipeg Fringe festivals and Artistic Pick in the 1999 and 2001 Seattle Fringe Festivals. Seattle is lucky to have her and she has graciously shared her talent by teaching for Seattle Children’s Theatre, Youth Theatre Northwest, Seattle Public Theatre and a variety of schools.

Performing a one-woman show must be one of the most challenging roles for an actress, but Glanz made it look easy, like she was having an extended conversation with the audience. I can’t help but wonder how hard it must be to memorize pages and pages full of lines.

Although no other actors or actresses have roles in “The Belle of Amherst,” Brad Hawkins does a magnificent job of making his cello talk. You’ll know right away what the cello is saying, I guarantee. His background music signals mood changes in Glanz, as well. Hawkins has taught cello and contemporary performance technique at Seattle University, Portland State, Indiana University, and at the Hochshule fur Musik in Freiburg, Germany. He also composes and currently serves on the faculties of Lakeside School and the Academy of Music Northwest.

The talents and skills of Hawkins and Glanz blend together like coffee and cream – they enhance each other.

The story revolves around a part of Emily Dickinson’s life where she lived as a recluse and wrote poetry. Her poetry reflects that loneliness and didn’t see publication until after her death in 1886.

“The Belle of Amherst” directed by Teresa Thuman, another true artist, runs through October 10 at Centerstage in Federal Way. For more details, visit: www.centerstagetheatre.com.